Kip Itchyfoot

[Bulldog241]

Kips past is a joyful one, but it is also shrouded in mystery even from himself. He grew up in a small halfling village, helping his parents farm and tend to the livestock. He was a happy, although timid child who was quick to laugh and help others when he could. It was very different from his current life. Oh my, how very different indeed.

Such changes do not happen overnight, nor without help. Kip had lots of help, believe me, some of which he can't even remember. He remembers his Uncle, whom he had never met, coming for a visit. He remembers the stories he was told of incredible adventure and unfathomable powers. And he remembers the strange abilities his Uncle suddenly possessed, powers that his mom and dad swear he never had. He does not, unfortunatly, remember what happened in that cave, or how he survivied, or whether his Uncle is still alive.

But whatever happened, he is far from the timid farmer halfling that he started as. His supernatural abilities grow stronger everyday, suprising even Kip sometimes. Gnolls, giant spiders, evil druids, and even giants have all fallen before him, getting blasted into pieces all at Kip's whim. His powers have changed him indeed. While at first he was reluctant to use them, he has begun to enjoy, even relish in using them. This is a dangerous path, since so far his powers can only destroy. And for anyone who relishes in destruction, the decent into madness is slow indeed........

[Bulldog241]

Kip is beginning to see things.

At least, he thinks so. The other day while walking through Baldur's Gate, he could have sworn he saw a devil. In reality it was a Tiefling, but Kip had never seen a Tiefling before. The reddish skin and horns on the top of his head may have caused Kip to leap to a few conclusions, but you can't really blame him. For reasons unknown to Kip, his first reaction was fear. Pure, abject, uncontrolable fear the likes of which Kip had never experienced before. And Kip gets afraid often, so that's saying something.

As Kip stood there, frozen in place with fear, he saw the devil slowly turn towards him. Anyone standing nearby would have heard the Tiefling say "What are you staring at?", but with the blood roaring in Kips ears all he could hear was muffled grumbling coming from the devils mouth. A single thought finally materialized in his mind, and all at once it became crystal clear. He will not have you. Kip stood up as tall as his tiny frame would make him, and as defiantly as he possibly could he pointed a steady finger directly at the Tiefling. "You will not have me." The look of confusion on the Devils face told Kip all he needed to know, that the Devil wasn't expecting him to say that. Kip had the upper hand! With his courage growing, he repeated the phrase louder this time, threatening to end the devils existance if he ever came near Kip again. And with that, he channeled his innate power through his body and shrouded himself from sight, vanishing into thin air and running away as fast as he possibly could.

He had done it! The devil did not pursue him!! Kip was full of himself with excitment, but after running for several miles a question began nagging at Kips mind. Why did he think a devil would pursue him in the first place? He had been so sure that the devil wanted him for something, but what in the name of Arvoreen would a devil want with him? He stoped, suddenly very confused as he tried to figure out just what it was that he was so sure of mere moments ago.

It was then that Kip was nearly run over by a horse drawn carrage, and he realized that he was still invisible and standing in the middle of a fairly busy road. Blushing, he dispelled the invisibility and walked off, utterly confused as to what had just happened. It was entirely possible that he was starting to see things.......

[Bulldog241]

An excerpt from the journal of Kip Itchyfoot:

Something horrible happened today. The town of Beregost was attacked by hordes of undead! I was traveling with Deus and Dante and we where on our way back to Beregost. When out of nowhere a crazed chicken and cow began attacking us with some weird magic that I've never seen before! Deus and Dante both got stuned by their attacks, but fortunatly I was able to avoid it. They probably figured that the short one wouldn't be a problem and so attacked me last.

I hate it when people have that attitude with me! Just because I'm smaller then them they always think they can push me around! Well, that chicken and cow quickly regreted it, I can tell you that much. They both got what was coming to them. But then something else appeared, something that I've never seen before. I can only assume that they where using magic to control simple farmyard animals to attack us. Again, I quickly disposed of whatever it was. Deus later called them "mindflayers", which I suppose makes sense because whatever they used to attack me hurt my brain in a way I've never felt before. Way down, deep inside.

We started to run when more appeared, but that's when I stoped. I wasn't about to let some stupid mindflayers chase me anywhere! No sir! I turned and stood my ground, and I made sure that those things would never bother me again! Deus said I was brave, but I was just angry. I hate them, and I wish they all would die.

Right after that was when Beregost came under attack by a Lich. I've never heard of them before, but the survivors of the assault said they get their powers from giving up their souls. Or something like that. Whatever it is, I need to find out more about it.

[Bulldog241]

Kip didn't know why he did it. He didn't want to. There was no reason for it!!

But alas, it is done. Just a few nights ago, Kip couldn't sleep. He was restless, and something was gnawing at his mind. He paced the room of the Inn he was staying in, and finally gave up on sleep. Sliping out of the Inn and into the night, Kip felt drawn towards something. He didn't want to be followed, and so before he left his room he had used his powers to shroud himself from sight. Kip smiled at the thought, at how powerful he had become. Abilities that would have seemed impossible just a few months ago where now second nature to him.

He sliped out of the town of Beregost and began hiking north. After several hours, he finally arrived, and was utterly confused. Why had he come here? He had seen this lonely house before, off in the distance from the Trade Way. He looked around, thinking maybe he was supposed to be somewhere else. But no, it was most deffinetly this house.

He walked up to the window and tried to peer in. The house was silent, dark. Everyone would be sleeping. Not that it would matter, his powers would keep him concealed even in the middle of the day. And even if it came to a fight, nobody would be able to find him. He could attack with impunity without ever becoming visible, such was the extent of his power. Again, Kip smiled. HIS powers. They where his, and nobody was going to take them away, no matter what.

Kip instinctively looked around again, surveying the countryside. Seeing nothing, he steped back from the window. He felt the familar rush of magic coming forth from deep within him, surging through his limbs until it finally crackled between his fingers and burst forth, striking the foundation of the house. Again, Kip let loose with a blast of magical energy that could kill just about anything. The foundation of the house exploded in splinters of wood and fire, and Kip could just barely be heard laughing wildly over the din of the explosion.

In mere moments, the house was ablaze in the night. The startled family began pouring out of the house, looking around frantically to make sure everyone was out. What, not everyone was? Who is missing? Where is she, I thought you had grabed her?!

Kipped looked on, now in absolute horror. What had he done? For a brief moment, he was about to rush over and help them. But they would be mad at him. After all, he had done this. Kip hesitated, watching the family vainly try to put out the fire, trying to get back inside to rescue loved ones. Who knew if they where even alive?

Kip slowly backed away, safe in his cocoon of invisibility. He began running now, as fast as his short legs could carry him, sprinting back towards Beregost until his lungs burned and his legs where numb. Still he ran, refusing to stop, refusing to think about what he had just done.

Kip burst through the door of the Inn, running upstairs to his room, not caring if anyone was shocked at the sound of footsteps without any physical form to make them. He crashed onto his bed, tears streaming down his cheeks. A wave of weariness overtook him, and he sank into a deep sleep full of fire burning the flesh off of the bones of his own family. Why had he done that? Why?

That morning, when Kip awoke, he could not tell if it was a dream or not. But he refused to go north to find out. He would stay away from there for a long time, for what if it was true? What had he become?

[Bulldog241]

Kip is lost.

Lost in one of the most dangerous places imaginable. Everything he sees wants to kill him, he can't find his way home and he has not a single friend to help him. Yes, the Underdark can be a horrifying place for a surface halfling.

Kip had spent some time in Gullykin, and during his stay he heard all sorts of stories about the tower to the north. Durlag's tower, everyone called it. Whatever you do, don't go there. People who go in do not come out, and only death awaits you in there. Huddled in a corner of a mostly deserted cave in the Underdark, Kip now wishes he had listened to them.

Instead, he viewed it as a challange. For surely, that would not be the case with him. Oh no, the mighty Kip Itchyfoot with his newfound abilities and nearly unlimited powers would be different! He could walk into the tower and crush anyone that stood before him. And at first, that was true. The beasts inside, though powerful, could not hope to stand up to the magic that Kip brought before them.

Even as Kip decended deeper into the tower, when drow started appearing he still found a way to overcome them. Drow. DROW!! Yet even they fell to him. Kip found the feeling exhilarating! For if drow where no match for him, who could stop him? Then, he found a portal hidden deep within the bowels of the accursed place. Arrogantly he steped through it, pocketing the treasures on the other side. They would make him rich!! Why didn't he turn back then? Why did he have to keep exploring?

It wasn't long before Kip got turned around in the maze of tunnels on the other side of that portal, and now he was alone, lost in the Underdark. He met a few drow already. One group he hid from, and he overheard them talking. From what he could make out it sounded like there was a drow city nearby. Yes, a whole city of drow, and he was but a single frightened halfling! It wouldn't matter much what sort of power he had when faced with those odds.

Kip curled tighter into a ball, trying to warm up and perhaps get a few hours of sleep. He was so very tired, fighting nonstop since he arrived. He knew that before this ordeal was over, his powers would be truely put to the test.

[Bulldog241]

Kip never in a million years thought he would be walking up to the gates of a drow city carrying a bag full of decapitated heads. And from the bewildered expressions on the faces of the gaurds, neither did they. It's amazing how quickly things can change.

Just yesterday, Kip had made a decision. He didn't know how long it's been since he'd eaten. He'd lost count. He didn't even know how long he'd been lost, as there is no sun down here. It could be noon for all he knows.

But the worst part was his thirst. His waterskin went dry quite a long time ago, and he hadn't seen any sort of drinkable water.

When Kip had first located the city he had stayed clear of it for obvious reasons. But the lack of food and water changed that. He considered trying to sneak in while invisible, but he knew how skilled the drow are with magic. There's a good chance he would be spoted, and then what? No, far better to have a reason to be there, which is what the bag is for.

While scouting out the entrance, Kip overheard the gaurds talking about some escaped slaves. Apparently there was a reward for hunting them down and killing them! Kip knew this was his chance. He headed in the direction that the gaurds had pointed to, looking for them.

He had found one of them fairly quickly and blasted him without a second thought. Before he had severed his head, he made him tell Kip where the others where hiding. It took a while, but eventually Kip found it. There where two of them outside, posted as gaurds. He was standing only two feet in front of them and they couldn't see him. Kip smiled. They would never know what hit them.

It had only taken a few moments, and all the slaves where dead. The best part was that one of them had a waterskin on him, which Kip gulped down eagarly. Kip then used his power to scorch the heads clean off their bodies, and was now walking up to the entrance of Sshamath with a bag full of heads. Yes indeed, how quickly things change.

[Bulldog241]

The gaurds at the entrance apparently didn't think a dark skinned halfling with odd markings on his face would be walking directly towards them this day.

"Well well, seems we have a lost little halfling. I wonder how fast those short little legs can carry you?" The gaurds sneered at him, but Kip didn't show any reaction. Instead, he droped the bag at their feet, a few of the heads rolling out.

"I believe you had a problem with some escaped slaves. Had a problem. Let me pass and you can turn these in to your superiors, claiming you caught them all. I'm sure they'll be quite impressed." Kip just stood there, smiling. He was amazed at how calm he was. He expected to be frightened out of his mind, but at the moment all he could feel was a distant anger, ready to be unleashed if the gaurds tried to double cross him.

"Wha......How in the world did a small little runt like you hunt down all these?"

The other gaurd just smiled "Hey, he's right. Lets turn them in! We can say we did it."

"Fine, but I'm not about to let some halfling run around my city!" The guard pointed his spear at Kip "Run along now, before you get hurt."

Kip had been expecting this, and his facial markings began glowing. The guard with the spear saw this and suddenly became a bit uncertain about his position. "Are you sure you want to do that? Escaped slaves or not, I was outnumbered 10 to 1 and I dont' have a scratch on me. Now tell me, what do you think I'd be able to do to you?"

Kip let the threat hang there a moment, and then added "Of course, I'm sure your friends would come running to your defense the moment they saw a fight. Probably even your superior, which would be a bad thing I'd guess."

The guard was obviously a bit nervous with the small halfling and his glowing face "It would?"

"Oh heavens yes! After all, if your going to lie to them about who killed theses slaves it would be best to not have me present. Unless of course you make a habit of burning heads off with acid rather then using your pointy stick there." Again, Kip smiled. The gaurd had gotten the message.

Kip was now in the city, doing his best to not draw attention to himself. It helped that his skin was as black as the drow, and he made it to an Inn without any trouble. Once inside, Kip hoped up on a bar stool and asked the barkeep for a room and a meal. The barkeep laughed and said the stables are outside.

Kip took a deep breath to restrain himself. He didn't want to start firing off magic in the middle of a drow filled Inn, but he was nearly willing to do so and see how many filthy drow he could take to the abyss with him. Instead, Kip tossed a large bag of gold onto the counter. It was easily 20 times more then what he was asking for, but he didn't care. Kip had plenty of gold from his adventures.

"I said I want a room. A real room, with a door and a bed. And a meal. A big one, with meat and ale. But first, I need this waterskin filled up." The barkeep simply stared at the gold for a moment before snatching it up and calling out to someone in the back room. A short, timid gnome came out and escorted Kip upstairs.

The gnome kept looking back at Kip as he showed him to his room, curious as to how someone as small as he had been able to command any authority with these drow. Once in the room, the gnome began stammering "S-s-ir? If I c-c-could ask-"

"Leave" Kip pointed to the door and bellowed "NOW!!!" He then shouted after the gnome "And don't forget my food!!"

Kip plunked himself down on his bed, astounded that he was actually alive. His room apparently had a window as well, and he leaned out it to take in the city. Kip marveled at the city for a moment, and then with shock reflected on just how he came to be in this prediciment. He was lost in the underdark, in the middle of a city full of drow who would just as soon kill him, and he had just bribed and threatened a gaurd, and ordered about a drow innkeeper. It was the last place that a halfling should be smiling, and yet for some reason it was exactly what Kip was doing. Smiling.

For some reason, Kip was actually starting to like it down here. Yes indeed, how quickly things change....